Electric interlock for elevator doors



6 Maf 2, 0 6, 1 s s J R w D R O 0 T LK; A 5 1L m u L 1 n E R O O 3 L F wm O m w C m d e H. m n C F TL R T C E L E Oct. 12 1.926.

Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

causa #maar Rionaionn Einsender Doon con 'fion or rumana.-

oii Rioni/rollin, iivijnii, Assioiioitsiiid rliNY, or nionironn, iNnIANA, A c'oRPonA tweeen manteca Fea navman audits,

Animation med April ab, 1925. serial No'. aassi.

Our. invention relates to an electric interlock for elevator doors`a'nd more particu-f larly to a construction byivliich a' switch mechanism for coiitrolling the circuit to4 they motor for operatingl the elevator. cai', will be autoniatically opened or closed simultaneously ivith the release or setting of the .lock mechanism for permitting, or preventing,

the opening of elevator doors, i'vhe'n said 1 doors are closed, and preventing the application of povver to theeleva'tor operatir'ig motor,l ekcept when all doors in a shalt are closed' and locked;

The invention isv particularly applicable for use with elevator doors ofthe counter-4 These tivo sections, when the .door is ii: the

closed position,"h'ave their adjacent or abutting edges meet at approximately midvfayo'f the height of the door opening. l

Such doors" areeXtenSi'vely used infvvarehouses, and the different openings in elevator shait orv Well-are closed by similar doors, each door being equipped with an' electric interlock, so' that movement of the' car" is prevented' unless all doors in the shaft are completely closed and locked. v

Thisv general arrangement is old and'w'ell known in the art, our invention relating more particularly to a combined mechanical lock and electric intei'locl': mechanism so' con structed as to ensure. accuracy in the timingz ofthe' operation o't these tivo meclranisms, so' that Wh'ile the n'i'echanical lockiiig;I of the door is entirely independent of the actuation of the electric interlock, such parts will botli be controlled through one and' ltl'ief saine mechanism, and the actuation of one will oe coo'rdinated xvith the aotuatio'n of the' other.

By an' arran'frenientl such' as above def' scribed'` the electric interlock mechanism is relieved troin all or'f the strains andstresses incidental to the holdingi ofthe dooi's' inI the closed position," and likelihood of breakage oi the interlock tlirous'ih overrunn'ing of the door section carryi n one" of the p'arts of the locking mechanism is avoided.

In the installation of elevator door equip ment particularly incase of the construction. of newI buildings'the parts .are manufactured to accord ivith the building' plans, but in erection Work, it is frequently found that the dimensions in the plan are not strictly adhered to, so that it Ais required `to adapt the elevator door installation to conditions found in a shaft which are' changed from those for which the elevator door equipment was. constructed to Ineet.

`To facilitate the installation of the equipment, We soA construct the interlock portion of the locking mechanism that it may be readily mounted upon Hthe wall angle carrying the guide rails for the doors, and may be adjusted atterwinstallatioiieither to conipensate for variation.. from the building plans, or for wear after longuse ofthe doors, in orderA to ensure positive actuation of the electric interlock by th'edoor locking mechanism vvh'ether th'is be for the purp'olse of openingor closing`-tlie circuitto the elevator actuating moto'r.'

The invention consists primarily in an electric interlock for elevator doorsemliody-` ing therein th'e combination with a door, composed of oppositely and' vertically mov'-I ab'le sections;l flexible connections between said. sections, and a guide'structi'ire for said sections upon: opposite sides of? a door open- 111g, of a vstop carried by fs'aid' guide structure, a laterally sli'dable bolt up'on one' of said door sections, `c'o-olerating with saidV stoptaolock the door in' the closed' position', a [casing carried by said guide-structure, fixed contactsth'erein y'in circuit with" the elel vator car actuating motor, 'a movable Contact co'ope'ratino` vvith said fixed contacts, a inem! ber carriedby sa'id movable Contact, and projecting beyond said easing-i and engagieable relation vvith' saidbolt, and means oply eratifve up'onsaid movable fco'nt'a'ct, whereby it, has a normal tendency to' open 'the ciijcuit tothe motor as said bolt isV disengagedtlie'refreni; and*1 in such other novel features of construction and combination o'fj partlsas' are l hereinafter set fo'itli and described:andV `more particularly pointed out in' the' claims hereto" appended.

Referring to the drajving's,E Fig.Y 1 is a fragmentary portion of an ele! vater door adjacent the meeting point of the two sections of the door, showing a conabined locking mechanism and electric interlock embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view upon a larger scale showing the details of the electric interlock mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation from the right of Fig.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a portion of the upper section of a door is shown at c and a portion of the lower section at b. The guide structure of these sections comprises a wall angle c having a guide rail d attached thereto with which shoes d upon the door sections a and respectwely co-operate in controlling the open ng and closing movement of the door sections. "his guide structure may be of any desired construction, one well known type beine; shown and described.

Carried by the wall angle o is a stop member c, a co-operating member e being secured to the side bar of the upper door sec tion a, the members c-e being for the purpose of preventing the upper door section from falling downwardly of the shaft in the event of breakage of the usual con nections between the section a and Z), a portion of which is shown at y. The connections f are united with the hanger bar f2 of the lower door section,

Each section a and Z) is provided with the usual collapsible guides g engaging the edge of the guide rail l in a manner to secure the desired sliding lit of the door with said guide members under normal conditions, while permitting` expansion of the door in the event of fire.

The mechanisms heretofore described are duplicated upon opposite sides of the door.

Then opening a door, the section a moves upwardly and the section b downwardly, the movement of these parts being reversed in closing the door, the edges of the two sections adjacent the hanger bar substantially` meeting at approximately midway of the height of the door opening. Such doors ordinarily lap the door opening at the top, bottom and both sides when the door is in the closed position.

In elevator doorsof the type heretofore described, it is customary to provide a positive mechanical locking mechanism operable from the inside of the shaft only, for keeping the doors in the, closed position, and permit their being opened only when an elevator is at the floor closed by a door. The electric interlock used with such mechanical locks is for the purpose of preventing a. car from leaving a floor at which the door is open until the door has been fully closed and locked. The electric interlock structure usually serves as a keeper to receive the locking bolt so as to ensure the proper co-ordination of the mechanical lock and the electric interlock.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the mechanical lock is shown as consisting of a bevelled stop mem ber L secured to the wall angle c, and a slidable bolt z' mounted in a suitable hous ing i upon the lower door section I). lVhile in the drawings this mechanism is shown as being applied to the lower door section, it is apparent that it may, if desired, be ap plied to the upper door section by merely reversing the position of the stop it, since the locking of either section, by reason of the connections between the two sections, will resultin the locking of both sections. The bolt c' is actua-ted by a link 2 and the usual hand operated mechanism not shown, this link being connected to a pivot 3 carried by the bolt fi and moving in a slot t in the housing z".

Mounted upon the wall angle c is an electric interlock mechanism which includes a casing` secured to said wall angle in any desired manner, having ther-ein a switch mechanism by which .the circuit to the car actuating motor is controlled, the construction being such that the circuit is closed only when all doors in a shaft are closed, and is opened when any door in a shaft is open.

rlhe general construction and electrical arrangement of this interlock mechanism is old and well known in the art, and includes two fixed contacts /-a carried by and insulated from the casing y', and a movable bridge contact 7:2 carried by a stem 7c3 and acted upon 'by .a spring ict. rlfhe stem 7c3 is carried by and insulated from a pivotal or rocking support m provided with either or both an overbalancing weight m and a spring m2 so as to Cause said support to have a normal tendency to move the contact k2 out of engagement with the fixed contacts c-a. At 7c l have shown a conduit containing wires leading to the contacts C-c.

The casing is secured to the fiange of the wall angle c extending inwardly of the shaft upon the side thereof opposite to that from which the guide rail d projects, the flange of said wall angle to which the casing is secured. and the flange of said guide rail, being recessed or drilled to permit the free passage of a boss n upon the support m through the guide rail structure for the purpose of perinitting the actuation of said pivotal support by the bolt c' when said bolt is moving to engaging relation with the stop it. The boss n is provided with a screwthreaded socket, and adjustably mounted therein is a contact member consisting of a ieaded screw bolt 0 extending from said boss into a position where it is engageable till il U

lil)

by seid een relation to the -Sppdrt and thelookig bolt 't' to ehsfur aceura'te` timingdf the aetnatlon of the s'lpprt fin .and of the bolt z' So aS to preclude any possibility o'f the' engagement of the vbolt 'z' with the stop `t Wt-hoiit f'sil'ell a actuation of the Contact tl as will ensure the cloSilg of the crit acros' the contacte tt, and the Hittinte'nanoe of closed ero-tv'vh'l the` door is' looked. The mnber d le provided With a look init so that when ity iS otoe proper` l5" atljste'd, the adjustment wllr'o't be interfered with by Vb'alton in and about the meneer of metitfititg` the'eesing y' apen `et -eajuetiiietit er the easing' j ema the step sione which nay r'eSnlt by" 'changes in di;

onstru'ctlon' perinttg adjustment df ea1d1`ne1rlbe`1" 0'; Wlrlch Iwillrarely b'e great', 1s; highly clelrable, Sino'e elevator door struc# tufee in ttieiil 'entirety tire ei-'tlineltny made' to' Srpzl dimensions' reatlyfor asefeblyand i lnStalla'tlor'l",` in a factory which maj? be ll'lf" clrels 'olf miles fror'n the point of installa'- to which is lone by traveling Crewl of er'eeto'e under Conditions ttfherev the' facil-ll tieS for mechanical Work are entirely lach? lng.r Y y TheV mechanism i'rcl'n'olng the bblt z', stop t antl link 2 S ordinarily dnpleatel at both sdeS of the door opening; the interlock mechanism, however, being 'secl only at one` side of this opening.- y

interlock be so Constructed aS to nternpt the orout by means other than Sprrrge.

Y By this etiietfu'etitn they IIiIrib'e'' or bolt 0 iti-ay be lSo adjusted with' piiipttes' f edjiiSti'netiteid yet its dja-t: i nient c'nn'o't -n Way contribute towardthe Clng of the oirc'tto permit the operai tieneY et the' elevator 'een except tlhtu'g'n the medium et the bolt L By securing the casing 'poh tHe lde' of the' 'inwardly dreeted flan-ge of the Wll r 'el and by 'se eenstnietiii-g thefpi-t'etel itt rockingfiieirfb'er my that tiefer-yY ,et einer opening ln theflar'lge Supporting the` cas'g' y' is required; the e'iittiiig'tut ef portions iff f oppteite'ly and ver: i

stop to lock the door in the closed position, a casing carried by said guide structure, fixed contacts therein in circuit with the elevator car actuating motor, a movable contact co-operating with said fixed contacts, a member adjustably mounted upon said movable contact, and projecting into engageable relation with said bolt, whereby said member may be adjusted in relation to said slidable bolt to compensate for variances in the widths of different door openings, and means operative upon said movable contact, whereby it has a normal tendency to open the circuit to the motor as said bolt is disengaged therefrom.

3. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a door, composed of oppositely and vertically movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, and a guide structure for said sections upon opposite sides of a door opening, of a stop carried by said guide structure, a laterally slidable bolt upon one of said door sections, co-operating with said stop to lock the door in the closed position, a casing carried by said guide structure, fixed contacts therein in circuit with the elevator car actuating motor, a movable contact co-operating with said fixed contacts, said guide structure having an opening therethrough, a member carried by said movable contact, and projecting through said opening in said guide structure and into engageable relation with said bolt, and means operative upon said movable contact, whereby it has a normal tendency to open the circuit to the motor as said bolt is disengaged therefrom.

t. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a door, composed of oppositely and vertically movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, and a guide structure for said sections upon opposite sides of a door opening, of a stop carried by said guide structure, a laterally slidable bolt upon one of said door sections, co-operating with said stop to lock the `door in the closed position, a casing carried by said guide structure, fixed contacts therein in circuit with the elevator car actuating motor, a movable contact co-operating with said fixed contacts, said guide structure having an opening therethrough, a member adjustably mount ed upon said movable contact, yand projecting through said opening into engageable relation with said bolt, whereby said member may be adjusted in relation to said slidable bolt to compensate for variances in the widths of different door openings, and means operative upon said movable contact, whereby it has a normal tendency to open the circuit to the motor as said bolt is disengaged therefrom.

5. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a door, composed of oppositely and vertically movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, and a guide structure for said sections upon opposite sides of a door opening, comprising a wall angle having an inwardly directed flange and an angular guide rail secured to said inwardly directed flange of said wall angle, of a stop carried by said guide structure, a laterally slidable bolt upon one of said door sections, co-operating with said stop to lock the door in the closed position, a casing carried by said inwardly directed flange of said wall angle upon the side thereof opposite to that to which said guide rail is connected, fixed contacts therein in circuit with the elevator car actuating motor, a movable contact cooperating with said fixed contacts, said inwardly directed wall angle flange having an opening therethrough, a member carried by said movable contact, and projecting through said opening in said guide structure and into cngageable relation with said bolt, and means operative upon said movable contact, whereby it has a. normal tendency to open the circuit to the motor as said bolt is disengaged therefrom.

G. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a door, composed of oppositely and vertically movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, and a` guide structure for said sections upon opposite sides of a door opening, of 'a stop carried by said guide structure, a laterally slidable bolt upon one of said door sections, co-op- @rating with said stop to lock the door in the closed position, a casing carried by said guide structure, fixed contacts therein in circuit with the elevator car actuating motor, a movable contact co-operating with said fixed contacts, a member carried by said movable contacts, and projecting beyond said casing and into engageable relation with said bolt, an overbalancing weight operative upon said movable contact, whereby it has a normal tendency to open the circuit to the motor as said bolt is disengaged therefrom, and a spring supplementing the action of said overbalancing weight.

7. An electric interlock for: elevator doors embodying therein the combination with a door, composed of oppositely and vertically movable sections, flexible connections between said sections, and a guide structure for said sections upon opposite sides of a door opening, comprising a wall angle having an inwardly directed flange and an angular guide rail secured to said inwardly directed flange of said wall angle, of a stop carried by said guide structure, a. laterally slidable bolt upon one of said door sections, (2o-operating with said stop to lock the door in the closed position, a casing carried by said inwardly directed flange of said wall angle upon the side thereof opposite to that to which said guide rail is connected, fixed contacts therein in circuit with the elevator car actuating motor, a movable contact cooperating With said fixed contacts, said inwardly directed Wall angle flange having an :opening therethrough, 'a member carried by said movable contact, and projecting through said opening in said Wall angle flange and into engageable relation With said bolt, an overbalancing weight operative upon said movable contact, whereby it has a normal tendency to open the circuit to the motor as said bolt is disengaged therefrom, and a spring supplementing the action of Said overbaluncing Weight.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto affixed our Signatures this 27th day of April,

HALLAcK o. BALL. JOSEPH Z.. WINDER. 

